<i>In vitro</i> anti-melanoma activity and <i>in vivo</i> hair growth stimulation by <i>Lophocereus marginatus</i> methanol extracts

Hair loss is a common effect of cancer chemotherapy and other conditions. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antitumor potential of Lophocereus marginatus (LM) MeOH extracts against B16F10 melanoma cells and in vivo hair growth stimulation in a murine Balb/c model. Results. LM extracts significantly ( p &lt; 0.05) inhibited 66% to 74% tumor cell growth at concentrations ranging from 62.5 mg/mL to 500 mg/mL in a concentration-dependent manner, as compared with VERO cells (26% to 67% cell growth inhibition at 125 mg/mL to 500 mg/mL, respectively). The controls 6-(1-piperidinyl)-2,4-pyrimidinediamine 3-oxide sulfate (minoxidil) and Citrus bergamia (bergamot) oil at 6% to 50% (v/v) caused 88% to 95% and 14% to 48% growth inhibition in B16F10 cells, and 86% to 92% and 0% growth inhibition in VERO cells. Furthermore, the LM extract showed an IC 50 (mg/mL) of 62.63 ± 3.3 and 222.7 ± 6.4 against B16F10 and VERO cells, respectively, and selectivity indexes of 3.7 and 3.56 (IC 50 of NIH/373 VERO cells divided by that of B16F10 cells), respectively. The combination of LM-minoxidil and LM-bergamot significantly ( p &lt; 0.05) inhibited B16F10 and VERO cell growth in a concentration-dependent fashion. Regarding the in vivo hair growth stimulation experiment, we recorded body weights and abundance, length, and hair growth by 250 µg/mL LM-2.5% minoxidil, 250 µg/mL LM-50% bergamot, 100% bergamot, 500 µg/mL LM, 5% minoxidil, and vehicle treatments at days 0, 7, 14, and 21. Body weights were not altered by any treatment. However, on day 14, LM and LM-minoxidil showed significant ( p &lt; 0.01) differences in hair abundance, and LM-bergamot evidenced significant ( p &lt; 0.01) differences in hair length, as compared with untreated control and vehicle treatment. In addition, LM-minoxidil, LM-bergamot, and bergamot treatments stimulated 43.3%, 47.5%, and 39.3% hair growth on day 14, respectively, as compared with untreated control and vehicle treatment. Furthermore, localized hypertrichosis was observed on day 21 in mice under 5% minoxidil treatment. Due to the potential side effects of 5% minoxidil in humans, we recommend the use of L. marginatus extract in the treatment of diverse types of alopecia.